Roger David Conn

Former Durango resident Roger David Conn died of melanoma Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at his home in Cortez. He had turned 65 three weeks earlier.

Mr. Conn was born to Donald and Bernice (Jenson) Conn on Jan. 28, 1948, in Albert Lea, Minn. Most of his childhood was spent in Loveland, and he graduated from Loveland High School in 1966. He earned an associate’s degree from Northeastern Junior College in Sterling in 1968.

In 1978, he married Barbara Eggleston in Las Vegas. The marriage ended in divorce in 1999.

The couple had two daughters and lived along the Western Slope while Mr. Conn was a manager with City Market, moving to Montrose, Alamosa, Silverthorne and Grand Junction.

In 1985, the Conns moved to Durango, where Mr. Conn started Conn Distributing in 1986. The company serviced several lines of products to area grocery stores.

In 2003, Mr. Conn moved to Cortez with his longtime companion, Joey Sanford. The couple enjoyed spending time with friends, hiking and taking drives in the country. Mr. Conn was an active member of the Durango Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 507 for 22 years. He was an avid reader and enjoyed watching sports.

Mr. Conn is survived by his companion, Joey Sanford, of Cortez; daughters Kristin Conn of Durango and Kathryn “Kati” Rogers of Bayfield; sisters Betsy Burns of Loveland and Mary Downs of Gillette, Wyo.; former wife, Barbara Conn, of Durango; two grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.